Instructions

ZOOM IN by clicking on the page. A slider will appear, allowing you to adjust your zoom level. Return to the original size by clicking on the page again.

MOVE the page around when zoomed in by dragging it.

ADJUST the zoom using the slider on the top right.

ZOOM OUT by clicking on the zoomed-in page.

SEARCH by entering text in the search field and click on "In This Issue" or "All Issues" to search the current issue or the archive of back issues
respectively.
.

PRINT by clicking on thumbnails to select pages, and then press the
print button.

SHARE this publication and page.

ROTATE PAGE allows you to turn pages 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.Click on the page to return to the original orientation. To zoom in on a rotated page, return the page to its original orientation, zoom in, and
then rotate it again.

CONTENTS displays a table of sections with thumbnails and descriptions.

ALL PAGES displays thumbnails of every page in the issue. Click on
a page to jump.

was guided by a careful study of its current client base and business.
Questions were posed, and then answered:
• What was the overall objective?
• Where did the greater need lie: To expand capacity or expand
capability?
Cost analysis studies were done to determine what work could move
off of flexo machines right away, while the sales and marketing team
went to work pursuing short run work that Traditional Label Co.
didn’t ordinarily have.
A STORY FOR ALL
Traditional Label Co. isn’t a real
company, and this is not the story of
its road to digital printing. It’s actu-
ally the path taken by FTA member
McCourt Label Co., where I serve as
VP of sales. But ignore the year we
opened, and the story of Traditional
Label Co. is one common to many
a flexo printer. How does a printer
with a history in one process—and
sizeable investments of capital,
equipment and labor—move to
integrate a new one?
Having made the jump more than two years ago, we can discuss not
only the benefits of enhancing our business with digital printing,
but also the challenges that can affect each and every department
in the company. At the onset, because digital printing allowed us
to pursue new avenues of business, we expected to have more jobs
come through our system. With that are things that you come to
expect—but have you considered added strain it can put on certain
departments? There are more jobs to service, proof, produce, finish,
ship and invoice. Each and every department was directly impacted
by the change.
We have learned a lot in the process of adding digital printing to our
arsenal. The learning process has helped us not only develop digital
label business but has also helped us in our flexo business as well.
We’ve moved short run programs to the digital machine and increased
margins by reducing scrap and makeready times, all while providing
quicker lead times.
PAYING DIVIDENDS
One of the biggest advancements has been in our overall knowledge
of color, which has expanded tremendously. We have had reps from
RIT and Clemson come in and provide color training with our press
and prepress personnel, as well as sales and customer service. Our first
press was 4-color process plus white. One of the biggest challenges, up
front, was understanding what could be and could not be achieved in
terms of color. We recently upgraded our first press to a 7-color unit
with expanded gamut capabilities. That was a tremendous change and
really helped save time in color matching.
We have also produced jobs combining both technologies. We’re
taking advantage of printing multiple lots without plates but adding
enhancements to the labels flexographically. We’re printing digitally
where it makes sense but adding decorations with cold foil and special
varnishes and finishes.
While change can bring about unantic-
ipated challenges, the overall benefits of
improving and expanding capabilities is
definitely a win. n
[Editor’s Note: Sharon and McCourt
Label Co.’s President David Ferguson also
discuss the challenges of implementing
digital print in Issue 1 of FLEXO iQ. Visit
www.FLEXOiQ.com to read the inter view.]
“At the onset, because digital printing
allowed us to pursue new avenues
of business, we expected to have
more jobs come through our system.
With that are things that you come
to expect—but have you considered
added strain it can put on certain
departments? There are more jobs
to service, proof, produce, finish,
ship and invoice. Each and every
department was directly impacted
by the change.
”
McCourt Label Co.’s pressroom
in the early days. Photo taken
circa 1937.
FEBRUARY 2016 | FLEXO 117